Improvement in postage and revenue stamps



A. 0. FOX. Postage and Revenue Stamp.

- No. 201,769. Patented March 26,1878.

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m v I IY M II. PETERS, PNOTO UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

ADDISON O. FOX, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO THOS. F. EIGELBERNER,

EIGELBERNER ASSIGNORS B. ORAM, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

OF SAME PLACE; SAID FOX AND OF ONE-THIRD THEIR RIGHT TO EDWARD IMPROVEMENT IN POSTAGE AND REVENUE STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,769, dated March 26, 1878; application filed January 26, 1878. V

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ADDISON 0. Fox, of the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postage and-Revenue Stamps; and I hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a face view of a postagestamp embodying my present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same.

This invention has for its object to furnish a postage or revenue stamp which may be readily canceled, so as to preclude the possibility of its fraudulent reuse; and to this end I construct the stamp in such manner that its cancellation is effected by cutting or tearing away a portion of the stamp.

An indelible cancel in the form of an ink to be applied to the stamp is manifestly out of the question. If the ink is a true solution, excess of the solvent will completely remove it, while if it consist of a coloring matter in the form of carbon or similar insoluble sub stance in a state of mechanical suspension, it is merely a surface coating upon the paper of the stamp, and may be readily brushed off after dissolving the suspending material.

From the foregoing it is evident that the cancellation of a stamp by means of a col0ring matter, so as to preclude the reuse of the stamp, is a theoretical, as it has been found a practical, impossibility.

In order to effect the object in view, I construct the stamp as hereinafter described, leaving a portion of it in bold relief, which can be cut 0E, effectually destroying the stamp, and furnishing at the same time a voucher for its cancellation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents an' ordinary postage-stamp, diflering from the usual one only in having a rib, a, substantially at right angles to its surface. The said rib is formed by making a plait in the stamp-paper, the sides of the plait being attached together by gum in order to give it the stiffness necessary to prevent its being accidentally torn oil.

In order to cancel the stamp, it is only necessary to tear or cut away the rib a,,in whole or in part; and, in case it is desired to preserve a voucher for the cancellation, the portion so cut away may be retained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desirev to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A postage or revenue stamp having a rib or ridge, consisting of a double thickness of the material of the stamp, substantially as described.

2. A postage or revenue stamp having a plait or ridge formed in the material of the stamp, the sides of the said plait being attached together, substantially as described.

ADDISON O. FOX.

Witnesses R. D. WILLIAMS, DAVID G. WEEMs. 

